Florence’s 2017 Ancient Tower Visits

An annual tradition since 2011, public visits of the eight kilometer long (5 mile) Florentine defensive border, specifically Torre San Niccolò, Torre della Zecca, and Porta Romana, will be available to the public. This year, the Baluardo a San Giorgio will be added as a new fourth destination.

From the San Niccolò, tower, guests can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Built around 1345, it was of strategic importance when French troops under Charles VIII of the attacked the city of Florence in 1494.  The gate is the only one in Florence only one to retain its original height thanks to its fortunate location behind the hill of San Miniato. It will be open all summer until August 31.

Unlike its twin tower, San Niccolò, the Torre della Zecca has but a few small windows. For a time, this tower hosted the workshop where the Florentine currency, the florin, was coined, in a process that utilized water from the Arno. This historically significant tower will be open September 16 (4 – 7 pm), and October 14 (3 – 6 pm), with tours running each half hour.

Porta Romana, formerly known as Porta San Pier Gattolino, was once the southernmost gate in the Oltrano section of Florence. The public will be able to enter on Via Gusciana, and enjoy one of the few stretches of wall still existing in Florence. Porta Romana once housed the stables of the carriage drivers and workshops of the stonemasons, and today is adjacent to the Boboli Gardens. Tours of Porta Romana will be available on August 26 (5  – 8 pm), September 23 (4  – 7 pm), and October 21 (3 – 6 pm), every half hour.

Finally, the newest addition to the initiative, the Bastion of San Giorgio, will be open to the public as well. Constructed around 1552, in the shape of a trapezoid, it was intended to upgrade the military defense of the city. Currently used by the Fiorentini Balestrieri (Crossbow) Company, it was thought to have been designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti during the siege of Florence in 1529 and 1530. Those interested can enjoy the tours offered by the hour on September 9 (4 – 7 pm), and October 7 (3 – 6 pm).

The visits of these four historical landmarks are open to everyone eight and up, at the price of €4 for 18 and over. For more information, or to make a reservation, send an email to info@muse.comune.fi.it.  (s.g.)